Publication date: 05/02/2024
Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône, one of the best ports of call in the Mediterranean
A port in a privileged location
Located in the middle of the French Mediterranean coast, equidistant from Spain and Italy, halfway between the Camargue and Provence, the town of Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône is a stopover not to be missed. Every year, many yachtsmen choose the marina at Port Napoléon as their port of call, whether for a day's sailing in the south of France, several days' cruising or a longer trip in the Mediterranean.
At the mouth of France's third longest river - the Rhône, the town enjoys a location between land and sea, between the river and the sea. For motorboat and sailboat visitors to the marina, this location is perfect: in the heart of the Camargue Regional Nature Park, Port Napoléon offers the chance to discover magnificent wild landscapes, incredible wildlife - pink flamingos, migratory birds, horses, bulls... - and numerous sites of interest.
A marina in the heart of nature
If you sail a motorboat or sailboat in the Mediterranean, you probably love the natural surroundings. Good news, there's no shortage of them here! Beyond the Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue, Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône boasts three renowned beaches on its coastline:
- Napoleon beach, the city's flagship symbol, is 10 kilometers long and made of fine sand,
- Plage Olga, close to the Canal Saint-Louis and the " cabanonniers", is more intimate and less crowded,
- Carteau beach, ideal for water sports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Do you prefer green spaces? The Parc du Ponant, the Parc de la Révolution, the Noël Biondi garden, the They du Mazet discovery trail, the Bois Français, the Nougaret and Léo Lélée squares... Depending on the area you want to explore from the Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône marina, you'll be spoilt for choice!
Finally, yachtsmen who prefer to visit their stopover by bike will also be delighted: from Port Napoléon, they will be in the immediate vicinity of the ViaRhôna, the famous 815-kilometer bicycle path linking Lake Geneva, on the French-Swiss border, to the Mediterranean.
From the port of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, a rich array of activities
If you're planning a stopover of one or more days at Port Napoléon, you won't be bored. After discovering the region's extensive natural heritage, why not visit the Tour Saint-Louis, which has been located in Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône since the 18th century, or take a ride on the marshes aboard a nègo-chin, the traditional local boat?
The discovery of the town's famous cabanons is also not to be missed. Originally invented to provide housing for fishermen and ensure their safety, these structures gradually became storage facilities for nautical equipment. In parallel with the development of tourism, cabanons then became holiday resorts. Just under 200 cabanons still exist today and are waiting for you in Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône!
Travelers to Port Napoléon often appreciate the town's strong cultural identity. To further your knowledge of local traditions, you can also attend a Provençal joust - a fight in which two people, each aboard a boat, confront each other with a spear - or a Camargue race - a bullfighting game in which the animal is not killed.
Last but not least, the Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône marina is the ideal place to stop off for all kinds of culinary discoveries: fish and shellfish, vineyards, fleur de sel, rice...
Discovering seafaring professions, a fully-fledged activity at Port Napoléon
From the marina at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, sailors can learn about the sea and professional fishing - a very important activity for the destination, which has marked several generations.
And your stopover can be the perfect opportunity to take in several sights and experiences! Just a ten-minute walk from Port Napoléon, for example, you can visit Les Viviers de Carteau: production, purchase and sale of Camargue shellfish.
Interested in seafood farming? Just 2.5 kilometers from the marina, theAnse de Carteau invites you to discover the region's traditional seafood trades: shellfish farming - the cultivation of shellfish and mollusks - and mytiliculture - the cultivation of mussels. Take advantage of a visit to learn more about Carteau's oysters and mussels, bred on the border between the fresh water of the Rhône and the salt water of the Mediterranean Sea!
Would you like to learn how to fish for bluefin tuna, sea bass, turbot, sea bream or bonito? In Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, it's also possible to practice pescatourism, by going out on your own, accompanied by a professional, to sea fishing or big-game fishing. Fortunately, learning to fish isn't just for grown-ups: just a stone's throw from Port Napoléon, thefishing school also welcomes children aged 8 to 15.
Last suggestion: if you choose to visit Port Napoléon and Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône in August, don't miss the national big-game fishing competition!
Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône: an ideal stopover before discovering Marseille
The location of Port Napoléon is also ideal for exploringother destinations. Coastal or inland strolls, adventures in the calanques, relaxation on the beach, site visits, cultural or historical discoveries... In the surrounding area, numerous other Mediterranean ports will enable you to design a cruise tailored to your crew's desires. For example, you'll have a front-row seat to the wonders of the Côte d'Azur...
If there's one port that's an essential stopover, it's Marseille: 25 nautical miles from Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône, France's second-largest city is a multicultural, authentic and exceptional stopover for a Mediterranean cruise. Port Napoléon With Port Adhoc, the group's port closest to Marseille, you can easily reach this new destination.
Port Napoléona multiservice port at Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône
In the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, on a 13-hectare site in the commune of Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône, Port Napoléon is one of the only marinas in the Mediterranean to offer so many solutions for boat storage. Wet or dry, indoor or outdoor, all options are available to suit every project!
Firstly, 215 ber ths are available afloat, in a marina right in the heart of the destination. They are ideal for those wishing to leave their boats in the water, if they have a draught of less than 4.50 meters. Owners may consider mooring in the marina, on these catwalk-equipped berths. Four berths in the Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône marina are also available for larger boats, up to 35 meters in length.
Up to 1,000 boats can also be stored on land, outdoors, in the Mediterranean dry port. Motorized and sail-powered units are parked in a secure, supervised environment. cradlesin a secure, supervised environment.
Finally, with a 12,000 square meter hangar available to yachtsmen, Port Napoléon also offers dry storage for boats, again at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône. This represents 100 indoor parking spaces, allowing your vessel to be protected from the elements.
Within the Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône harbor, crews benefit from free Wi-Fi, water and electricity terminals, a parking lot with charging stations for electric cars, and even a hotel-restaurant! You can have fuel delivered directly to the port, take advantage of a self-service bike or easily book a cab. Finally, the Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône marina team will be delighted to help you with your mail.
Do you need to carry out maintenance or repair work on your motorboat or sailboat? Our port offers you a technical support center staffed by 15 specialized and qualified professionals: whether you're looking for a broker or a shipyard, or whether you need fittings, mechanics, paintwork, saddlery, sails, air conditioning, electricity or marine electronics, Port Napoléon is the marina for you. The Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône marina also offers underwater work.
In terms of infrastructure, Port Napoléon has a careening area with wastewater collection, a high-pressure washing zone, storage containers and a storage area for masts.
Boat handling is trouble-free for motorboats, sailing boats, monohulls and multihulls. Port Napoléon is equipped with a number of features:
- A travelift for boats weighing up to 65 tonnes
- A mobile crane for launching and lowering vessels of up to 250 tons
- A 50-tonne crane with a 38-metre jib
- A 26-metre gondola
- Several 30, 45, 65 and 80-ton trailers, including one dedicated to catamaran transport.
Are you interested in our marina at Port Napoléon, to stay temporarily in Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône or make it your year-round home port? Contact our team today and get a personalized quote for your project.